Pakistan reaches 59-2 after New Zealand bowled out for 153

November 16, 2018

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Pakistan reached 59-2 after New Zealand collapsed to 153 all out against seam and spin on the opening day of the first test on Friday.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who earlier top-scored with 63, took both catches to dismiss Pakistan openers Mohammad Hafeez (20) and Imam-ul-Haq (6) with 12 wickets falling on a bowling-dominated first day of the three-test series.

Left-hander Haris Sohail was unbeaten on 22 while Azhar Ali was not out on 10 at stumps with Pakistan trailing by 94 runs.

The New Zealanders, playing their first test in seven months, couldn’t cope with Pakistan’s bowlers and were dismissed in the first two sessions after Williamson won the toss and elected to bat.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah (3-54), who took two wickets before lunch, wrapped up the innings by having No. 10 Ajaz Patel lbw at tea.

New Zealand lost wickets in a cluster after lunch when five batsmen were dismissed within 22 runs against Pakistan’s relentless bowling attack.

Seamer Mohammad Abbas gave away only 13 runs off his 12 overs for his two wickets and triggered the collapse when he broke the 72-run fourth wicket stand between Williamson and Henry Nicholls (28).

Nicholls chased a wide delivery and was caught behind just when it seemed New Zealand would recover from early setbacks.

Fast bowler Hasan Ali (2-38) then grabbed two wickets in two balls. Williamson hit five 4s in his 112-ball effort but went for a needless pull and gloved a simple catch behind the wickets while Colin de Grandhomme was trapped leg before wicket off the next ball before Ish Sodhi survived the hat-trick ball.

Sohail (2-11) then had Sodhi and B.J. Watling both lbw in quick succession as New Zealand slipped to 133-8 before eventually getting dismissed for 153.

Earlier, Shah’s twin strikes before lunch and an early breakthrough by Abbas kept New Zealand under pressure.

The left-handed opening pair of Tom Latham (13) and Jeet Raval (7) was constantly tested by Abbas before the right-arm seamer found the edge of Raval’s bat in his fifth over.

Latham played a lose drive to Shah’s fourth delivery and was caught at short mid-wicket on the second attempt by Mohammad Hafeez.

Shah also had Ross Taylor (2) caught behind as New Zealand slipped to 39-3.

Williamson and Nicholls combined to defy Pakistan’s bowling attack before Abbas came back after lunch and triggered the Kiwis’ collapse.

New Zealand preferred to give the 30-year-old Patel his first test cap while experienced seamer Tim Southee was left out of the starting XI.

De Grandhomme provided New Zealand the breakthrough by having Imam caught at gully by New Zealand skipper. Trent Boult then lured Hafeez into a pull shot straight to Williamson at mid-wicket as Pakistan slipped to 27-2.